Riding Lessons

 

riding lesson with head teacher ChandraCattail Creek Farms offers a wide range of lessons and coaching to ensure riders and mounts meet their full potential.

Our instructors can coach you on your own horse, or you can take a lesson on our school horse string – meet our school horses! All are competent and safe mounts who undergo regular assessments for suitability. Whether you enjoy the precision of dressage, the exhilaration of flying over fences, or hacking out on the trails.

Lessons take place in our 110’ x 200’ outdoor ring weather permitting, or our wonderful 80′x180′ indoor arena.

Our riding school is designed to educate students not only in riding technique, but also horsemanship and stable management skills. Lessons are available starting at age 5.

Yearly goals for each level riding lessons
Novice Program
Geared toward those students who have never ridden or have limited experience. It is an effective introduction to horse care and basic position.
Intermediate
Students aim toward developing their riding skills and learning more about horse care and stable management.
Advanced
Caters to students who are interesting in building skills to lease or own their own horse. Students will learn what is involved in horse ownership, from economics to health care.
Hunter/Jumper or Dressage Training
Taught by our specialized coaches we focus on each rider’s goals and needs, customized training programs.

All of our instructors are qualified horse people who are interested in sharing their knowledge and experience. We create riders who know how to have fun in a safe and caring environment. We require students to wear ASTM approved helmets and heeled boots when riding. An important aspect to all of our programs is safety on and around horses.

From May to November, lessons run 7 days per week. We require a minimum enrolment of 1 month. Students are encouraged and supported to enter schooling shows throughout the year to test their abilities in a fun and low stress environment. In July and August, we offer week-long 9:00 a.m. to noon Summer Day Camps running Monday through Friday. They include 15 hours of instruction in 4 lessons.

Assess Your Riding Lesson Level
Introductory
Perfect for the total beginner who has not had lessons previously. Grooming, handling and tacking (saddling) skills are taught. Students will be expected to prepare their horses for each riding lesson. Daily riding lessons cover mounting, basic positioning and control at the walk and trot.
Beginner I/II
For the student who has had the Introductory camp or previous lessons, can tack up, and has good control over the horse at the walk and trot. Riding lessons will continue to concentrate on the basics of good riding position, basic aids, and improved control at the walk and trot, in preparation for canter.
Novice I
Riders are confident and ready to canter.
Novice II
Riders are cantering, have practised a two point position and work over poles and cavaletti.
Intermediate
Riders are proficient in basic gaits, working on two track movements, tactful aids and continued gymnastics over jumps.

  • meet our horses

    Meet our horsePhantom is a very pretty pony that loves to jump. more of our horses

  • meet our instructors

    riding instructor GillianChandra McNamara is the riding school manager and senior coach and trainer. She has a long background in horsemanship and 17 years professional coaching. She makes happy partnerships between junior/amateur riders and their horses happen. More about Chandra

    Cory Nichols has had the opportunity to ride her Hanoverian with an Olympic rider and work with a well-known international FEI certified coach. She works part-time in veterinary medicine as well as teaching a love of horsemanship and riding. More about Cory

    riding instructor GillianGillian Renner has pursued riding with passion and dedication for the past 13 years, having owned her own horses for 12 years. She is apprenticed to Chandra McNamara, assisting with coaching and young horse development. More about Gillian